San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-02-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(Frcm Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb. ID, 1887.

(Frcm Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 1887.
The sensation of the past week Oh
Capitol Hill was the Presidents vet
of one of the most reckless speci
mems of legislation that was ever pre-
scented to any Congress: "The Uni
yersal Pension Bill" Not that HI
action was q surprise to those whit
have watched his course in regard t.
pension matters, for he has shown
on several occasions already that h,
has the courage to do his duty. Blu
as Representative Springer said, M
man over filled the Office of Presiden
before Mr. Cleveland, who would
have had the boldness to veto such {
bill which had passed both Houses
of Congress by more than two thirds
majority, and which had so powerful
sentiment at the back of it.
Echoes of congratulation have been
coming back to the President from
all parts Of the country, and he has
heard plenty Of censure from the
mere partisans who have learned to
regard the war as their personal
legacy. But he will have the praise,
approval and gratitude of the great
mass of the people of all sections,
the tax paying civilian and the hon
est veteran, of all true patriots both
of the North and South.
If this remarkable pension bill had
become a law, it would have given II
pension to every eXUnion soldier
who can not earn the sort of living
he would lillo-in other words, to
every man who was in the Federal
army and is yet alive. 1t would give
a pension to every drunkard and
Shiftless lonfer who was in the army
for ninety days, even if his disability
is due solely to his own vices. 1t
would give a premium to mendicancy
and Incidence, for nothing convincos
n man that he is unable to work like
showing him that he can live without
it.
And then think of the millions
after millions of the peoples money
that such u bill would waste. 1t
would double the pension burden Of
the United States, making it $780,
100000 year. 1t would make the
roll call Of pensioners larger than the
Federal army ever was and four
times rs large as the whole standing
army of England.
The Republican members Of Con
gress have made but little comment
upon the subject. The veto message
seems to have taken their breath.
Rep. Stalnecker, of n Y, thinks the
message is the ablest state paper of
Mr.. Clevelands term. Said he: III
takes up the bill, section by section,
md just tears it to tatters. In stat
ing his reasons for the veto he has
built fort around him which it will
be pretty difficult to storm.
A western congressman, who was
speaking of the Presidents courage,
said: My admiration for him WAS
never great until now. He has
turned his face against Il sentiment
before which all parties have bowed,
md if he is sustained by Congress,
this incident may be the turning
point of popular reaction against
The abuse of the whole pension bust
ness
Another enthusiast ever the Presi-
Tents pluck said: 1T is the great
,st and best thing that Cleveland
,ver did. 1t required just such IL
nan as he to pat a firm foot down
against a system of legislation which
to swamp this govern
ncnt Representative Oates, of
Alabama. remarked that this veto
would make the South solid again.
Indeed there was no limit To this
pension business and there appeared
% be nobody with courage enough
% saw where it should stop. OF ,
curse the President has not fixed
inal limit to this kind Of pernicious
cgislat,On, but he has shown himself
quail 10 the situation. He has drawn
Zee attention Of the country to the
bure in such a W1y that the people
yho pay the taxes viii begin to
hink II over.
Il he hal signed this PauTag Pen
SON bill. he would doubtless have
,s,n caiicl upon during the ylII 90 /
igu a supplementary biii-a blu pen
irrirr al m,u who wanted - enlist
q the Federal army. but who were
iy=el'ly unable or were needed at
o-a hy iepenlcgf famii,s. Why
ut' IL ali men vlo enlisted, and
sho -lut more far support tim tbtir
~ income. are entitled o. pen
lul~. ghy sL.u.i Tot al UJu BE-
qHlI'y laServin- Il ral~5-T- Elo
.-uttl 3D. cas-; 4ul cad LJ:'